Story perspectives

EU Slaps AliExpress €550 Million Fine for Counterfeit Goods

7/20/2026

Summary

AliExpress Fined

EU fined AliExpress €550 million for illegal, unsafe and counterfeit goods.
Investigators said counterfeit items stayed online for weeks after being flagged, prompting AliExpress to submit a corrective plan by 20 October or face fines.
The fine, the largest under the Digital Services Act, is under 1 % of Alibaba’s €122 billion 2023 revenue and follows a €3 parcel fee from 1 July 2026 and fines of €200 million on Temu and €120 million on X.

Summary

AliExpress Sanctioned

The European Commission found AliExpress gave moderators only 10–20 seconds per product, hampering illegal-item detection.
The March 2024 probe revealed the platform relied on a single quantitative indicator that could not track re-appearance of illegal goods.
Tests showed the recommender and advertising algorithms actively promoted illegal products before they were removed.
AliExpress called the €550 million sanction disproportionate, noting the Commission cited the DSA’s novelty as a mitigating factor.

History

Historical Context

The 2013 Lahad Datu incursion brought 235 Sulu militants into Sabah, leading Malaysia to tighten cross-border enforcement and impose a trade ban in 2016. This security-driven crackdown on illicit goods foreshadowed international efforts to curb illicit online trade, showing how regional conflicts can shape broader digital-market regulation and influence policy across continents.

1 of 3

AliExpress Fined

EU fined AliExpress €550 million for illegal, unsafe and counterfeit goods.
Investigators said counterfeit items stayed online for weeks after being flagged, prompting AliExpress to submit a corrective plan by 20 October or face fines.
The fine, the largest under the Digital Services Act, is under 1 % of Alibaba’s €122 billion 2023 revenue and follows a €3 parcel fee from 1 July 2026 and fines of €200 million on Temu and €120 million on X.

1 / 3